Embrace Autumn - Ayurveda Way!

By Rippan Sandhu

We have experienced the wonderful summer and spent some quality time with our family & friends during the sunshine! Now it is time to welcome autumn once again. The temperature is cooling down and air is getting dryer. According to Ayurveda, we are heading towards a Vata (Air) –dominated season. This ancient wisdom recognizes that each season has its unique characteristics and qualities. These changes and unique qualities are likely to manifest on our bodies as we exposed in environment on daily basis. Due to windy, cold and dry climate, Vata air also increases in our internal system. The body jumbles to protect itself from heat loss.

We no longer can keep the same routine we followed during summer and it is time to embrace the change & stay harmonized with the season. If Vata is balanced, we feel healthy, creative and enthusiastic. However, if it is imbalanced we feel physical or emotional disorders, including insomnia, anxiety, rough and dry skin, constipation and fatigue in the body. Have you noticed you are waking up bit tired from the bed nowadays & your skin is losing its natural luster? It is simply due to the seasonal transition. Your blood flow levels reduce and even the pulse rate drops with the drop in temperature. The best way to avoid these disorders is to follow a well-balanced routine during this season.

We would like to share some practical and easy ideas to keep you lively during the autumn months.

Autumn Daily Regime
• First, follow a well-planned routine. Do not skip your breakfast/ lunch or dinner. In this season, we crave for more food as we get better circulation in the core/ stomach. Skipping a meal will highly affect the energy levels so skipping meals is a complete no-no.

• Practice deep breathing in the morning, this will help reduce anxiety and stress.

• Indulge in regular massage treatments to keep that Vata grounded and improve your blood circulation. Alternatively, try regular self-massage at home – either in the morning or before going to bed, with warm organic sesame oil and find yourself more energetic and enthusiastic.

• Here are some excellent vata pacifying foods. In Ayurveda, we call them nourishing Ojas (Glow) building foods. Ghee(clarified butter), almonds, cashews, pistachios, ginger, rice, wheat products such as Roti / chapatti (Indian bread), warm milk, paneer (cottage cheese), olive oil, sesame seeds are all great during this season. Even well cooked veggies like beets, carrots, asparagus and sweet potatoes are favourable. Avoid cold or iced foods, raw salads and raw veggies. Salad lovers could sauté their salad with olive oil or ghee before eating it to make it easily digestible.

• Rise & shine early! Autumn mornings are special as you can still enjoy the sunshine with ‘sattvic’ (peaceful) qualities of the nature. Set a manageable exercise routine. Vigorous exercise is not necessary but you could push yourself until you break into a sweat- this will definitely improve your quality of sleep and restore the balance.

Most of all - Stay positive and think about something you are grateful for in the morning.. Remember -It is your mental attitude, which determines your success or failure of your life!

See you at the Spa!

Rippan & Spa Ayurda team.